Responsibility for Building Projects - National Authorization of Enterprises

The national authorization is an efficacious remedy for both the enterprises and the municipal bodies when the individual applications are considered. If an enterprise has received the national authorization, the municipality must in most cases recognize the authorization when granting the responsibility for the building activities. When the application is considered, the municipality shall normally just assess if the national authorization covers the scope of the project applied for. Thus, enterprises that hold national authorization are exempted from documenting the competence of the responsible manager in each and every application. The result is faster consideration at the municipality level. Also, the building application fee is normally lower for enterprises holding national authorization.

The authorization must be renewed every three years. Note however, that the local authorization only lasts as long as the period defined in the permission granted to the project.

Enterprises applying for national authorization must document the competence of the technical management and specify the company’s organisation and management. A systematic management through a self assessment system is a method for confirming that the work is performed correctly and prevent repetition of errors. Note that the management system is not a replacement, but an addition to the internal control system required by the Work Environment Act.

The purpose of the national authorization is, for instance, to:

§         make it simpler for the enterprises to develop integrated self assessment systems

§         reduce the paper burden and simplify the application process for the enterprises

§         simplify the application considerations in the municipalities

§         create accountability and transparency in the market by registration in a public register

§         contribute to competitive advantages for the responsible enterprises

§         make sure all applications for responsibility of building activities are treated equally.

The national authorization is granted by the National Office of Building Technology and Administration. Complaints are handled by a special Complaint Committee.